The municipal government of Rosales is pushing to become an agricultural trade hub for Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, and western Pangasinan.
Mayor William Cezar said talks were already held this year with officials from Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya to move the plan forward.
“Their vegetable products will be brought down to Rosales. The fish from the western part of Pangasinan will be brought here also, and we will have a market for them,” he said.
He said the town will serve as an exchange point for goods from both provinces and nearby Pangasinan towns.
A key component is upgrading road networks, especially routes to the Farmers’ Market or Bagsakan.
“I think one of our programs in Rosales is focusing on how to help our local farmers. I admit that the economy fuel of Rosales is really 50-50. Fifty is on the agriculture part, 50 is on the industrial, commercial,” he said.
He added the plan backs the national government’s food security drive.
“We need to support that because food security is really important for us here in the Philippines. It will be beneficial for us,” Cezar said.
Rosales sits at a strategic junction—bordering Villasis to the north, Nueva Ecija to the south, Balungao to the east, and Santo Tomas and Tarlac to the west.
It is part of the sixth congressional district, covering 6,639 hectares with a population of 66,711, based on the 2020 census.
DAR PANGASINAN PHOTO